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My Top 5 Lessons from Failure By Chidike Edmond Ojuyenum Between 2009 and 2024, I launched 9 startups. None survived. But I did. Failure is often seen as the end — a red stamp of shame. But for me, it was initiation. Each collapse gave me insight that no classroom could. Here are the 5 most important lessons I’ve learned from failing repeatedly and rising anyway : 1. Vision is not enough — Execution is King: A brilliant idea means nothing without discipline, structure, and daily momentum. I had dreams, but not systems. Now, I don’t just dream — I draft, delegate, and deliver. 2. The wrong team will kill a right idea: I used to believe passion was enough. It's not. If your team doesn’t share your urgency, your standard, or your code, your business is on borrowed time. Build slow, hire wise. Chidike Edmond (c) 2015 3. Money is not the problem — mindset is: Most of my early failures weren’t because I lacked funds, but because I lacked clarity, accountability, and stewards...

"Why African Entrepreneurs Struggle to Access Loans and Grants"  By  Chidike Edmond Chidike Edmond Ojuyenum Founder & CEO, Nova Gate Limited  When people ask me why entrepreneurs in Africa struggle to access loans and grants, I don't just hear a question — I relive a story. My story. Our story. In 2022, I stood before a panel of investors at a business reality show. I was hopeful, dressed for success, and armed with a vision I believed in. But what met me was not applause or critique — it was silence. Cold, confusing silence. Not because my idea lacked potential. But because I didn't know their language — the language of pitch decks, business models, and scalable metrics. I hadn't been taught. And they didn't bother to translate. Later, I applied for a ₦3 million SME loan. Again, I believed I was ready. But I had no guide. No mentor. No knowledge of the paperwork maze ahead of me. I failed — not for lack of vision, but for lack of access. And that's th...